UNI will host Iowa State on this afternoon in an intra state college softball matchup. The Panthers are 17-9 overall after taking two of three in a series against Evansville and host a Cyclone squad that is 17-14 after being swept in a Big 12 series at Oklahoma.

UNI coach Ryan Jacobs says Iowa State is a much improved team on offense and will be fired up to get back on track after losing the Big 12 series. He says the Cyclones have been swinging the bats better lately and have some power.

Jacobs says the mid-week games are important to play even though most of them are nonconference. “I don’t know that you accomplish a lot when you practice a long time at this point,” Jacobs says. He says it’s key to keep players mentally sharp right now and playing actual games is the best way to do that.